Frankly Speaking with Tyra G

Some particular words to establish our common thought space today are offered by noted Karmic astrologer Dora Jones, and I quote: "Each of us comes into life with a promise, a gift, a passion, and a deep, heartfelt desire. The promise is not just a concept; it's a journey of self-discovery. It's what you have come to life to master, overcome, resolve, or heal some aspect of your consciousness. As you face your life's experiences, you can fulfill this promise. Your responses to your experiences determine whether you fulfill or break the promise you have made to yourself. The gift is not just a talent; it's a unique expression of yourself. It is the cornerstone of self-determination and self-actualization. The gift constitutes your talents and abilities, the unique things you do as only you can do them. The gift is enhanced or diminished by how you do what you do and how you share the things you do naturally or well with others. Passion represents those things you pursue for sheer joy, making you feel alive, meaningful, valuable, and worthy. Most of us are frightened away from or talked out of our passion, making us think it is inappropriate or useless. Heartfelt desire is what you most want to experience in life. Some want love, others wish for acceptance, and most want both. However, it can be difficult not to lose our identity or integrity in pursuit of heartfelt desire. You may only have been aware of your life's true meaning and purpose today. So, put this message on your mirror as a daily reminder. This week, my guests walk individually and collectively in their self-discovered promises, gifts, passions, and heartfelt desires. Together, their stories combine history, mystery, and hope. Because of their specific areas of expertise, they are producing this show as a team, as only they can, so I will become a part of the listening audience. Meet Dr. Tyler Nolting, who will further introduce himself and the team.

There is a saying I read somewhere that stated, "if you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." This journey called life seems necessarily codependent. What if you believed the most outstanding service you could offer in life is to be a light on the path? Your affirmation might say, "Today, I am devoted to shining the light of compassionate support and service on those who may be in need." Since 1947, when it first opened its doors as an adoption and children's service agency, Catholic Charities has served the needs of the vulnerable, regardless of their faith, on behalf of the Catholic Church in the northern part of Virginia. I welcome to the table Mr. Ron Riggins, Chairman of the Board of Catholic Charities, with an extraordinary servant's heart to first add his personal story to the Frankly Speaking Human Library and then excite us with the "why" and the core values that embody and empower Catholic Charoites of Arlington. Hear how they serve and transform men, women, and their families, who come for assistance. Listen and be surprised, inspired, and perhaps get involved.

Meet Patrick. "Patrick has autism and an intellectual disability. Until 2008, Patrick lived with his biological mother in Texas. She worked hard to ensure that Patrick had every opportunity to achieve his fullest potential. She socialized Patrick, taught him manners, and gave him basic skills. Sadly, after so many years of her life dedicated to the care and growth of her son, Patrick's mother was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Patrick's grandparents brought him to West Virginia following their daughter's untimely death. While they were in good health, they were elderly and began looking for housing and care options that would be in Patrick's best interest. His aunt became his legal guardian and the entire family came together to make sure he had a safe and happy place to live with caregivers who were specially trained to care for him based on his disability"1 This story is not always the case. Intellectual disability affects about 1% of the population, and of those, about 85% have a mild intellectual disability. Males are more likely than females to be diagnosed with intellectual disability. Our guest this evening is professionally, and emotionally dedicated to improving the quality of life for this population. Listen, learn, and share. https://sfcp.cedwvu.org/personal-stories/

Iyanla Vanzant, Life Coach, and Author offers the following in her 2000 book Until Today. "Shhhh! Don't tell that story again. Do not talk about how so many bad people wronged you. Please do not talk about him, her, or them unless it will make you feel better right now. Hush! Don't utter another syllable about the pain and losses that have left you broken unless you are ready to recover right now. Stop! Dragging yourself back there, reminding yourself about how bad it was for you then unless it is relevant to what you are doing right now. Each time you think about talk about, or remember then, you put that energy squarely in the middle of your life right now. "You must acknowledge how you feel about everything you have experienced. However, it would be best not to tell the story in a manner that makes you feel bad right now. Tell me what you learned! Tell me how you have healed! If you look at your story, there is probably a great deal you can use right now to move forward. Join me and Dr. Bernadette Anderson as we look behind and beyond these words into a path of Healing, Health, and Happiness. You may learn something new about something old. Take a listen. Be inspired, and share.

We continue discussing with Michelle Petties., her book, and the mentoring program about Leaving Large. "Life will work for me when I accept … The labels placed on me don’t always fit. With its structures, expectations, and divisions, society has fostered certain ideas about women that are not always flattering. Many people believe that strong women are not feminine and that assertive women cannot be trusted. My all-time favorite is that women who exhibit any degree of clarity about who they are and what they want are dangerous. Do not forget that a bossy woman is domineering, making her the B word. We won’t bother to mention the myths that women are not as smart as men or that they cannot handle money as well. The point is some people believe these things about women, and some of these are women! Labels define. Often, labels set up expectations. Labels prescribe how much, how little, and sometimes how long a thing can be used. Labels are descriptive. Labels are protective, and labels can be removed. It just may be that the time has come to take the labels off women. It is probably more accurate to say it is time for women to take the labels off themselves. For a woman to realize that she is more than a mother, more than a wife, more than what she earns or what she does to earn a living, she must know her worth. This means she must test herself and her limits. A woman must learn to describe herself and establish her expectations for herself. She must encourage herself, support and nurture herself, be willing to be disliked, and violate the descriptions and confines imposed on her. My guest is doing the work today, paying the dues, and gracefully managing the rewards. The first inscription in her new book is a quote from Maya Angelou: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.” My guest personifies a butterfly and has come this week to share her journey. Her story will amaze, encourage, and excite anyone who has ever felt left out, left behind, or left over. Listen, be inspired, and share.

I quote "Life will work for me when I accept … The labels placed on me don’t always fit. With its structures, expectations, and divisions, society has fostered certain ideas about women that are not always flattering. Many people believe that strong women are not feminine and that assertive women cannot be trusted. My all-time favorite is that women who exhibit any degree of clarity about who they are and what they want are dangerous. Do not forget that a bossy woman is domineering, making her the B word. We won’t bother to mention the myths that women are not as smart as men or that they cannot handle money as well. The point is some people believe these things about women, and some of these are women! Labels define. Often, labels set up expectations. Labels prescribe how much, how little, and sometimes how long a thing can be used. Labels are descriptive. Labels are protective, and labels can be removed. It just may be that the time has come to take the labels off women. It is probably more accurate to say it is time for women to take the labels off themselves". --Iyanya Vanzant, Until Today 2000 My guest is doing the work today, paying the dues, and gracefully managing the rewards. The first inscription in her new book is a quote from Maya Angelou: “We delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit the changes it has undergone to achieve that beauty.” My guest personifies a butterfly and has come this week to share her journey. Her story will amaze, encourage, and excite anyone who has ever felt left out, left behind, or left over. Be inspired and share.

It’s March, National Women’s History Month when we intentionally recognize the ongoing great contributions women have made to our nation. Frankly Speaking with Tyra G is celebrating this month with a twist. We are looking at phenomenal women and how we embrace and manage our universal experiences, our rainbows and clouds, and our courage and resolve. We are a journey, not a destination; a process, not an event. Even when we are still, we are motion; loving, serving, nurturing, encouraging, and empowering. We are love and love does. But sometimes, sometimes we get stuck between our no longer the familiar, the habits and our not yet, who we were created to be, and we may ask the question: “Am I enough?” By the way, the right answer is a resounding YES! Our theme this month is: You are more than who you’ve become. Across generations, three women of color celebrate Michele Obama and her bestseller, Becoming. Join Emma Allen, Denise Fayne, and Jamella Smith in an authentic and vulnerable discussion about how self-compassion, self-improvement, and self-worthiness, are critical to becoming the person you were created to be. Listen, be inspired, and share.

We begin Women’s History and Appreciation Month celebrating phenomenal women who walk into this space through many doors. They willingly share their stories authentically and often vulnerably in order to pay forward what they have learned and to celebrate each other. Thank you, ladies! Irish author C.S. Lewis says, “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You Too? I thought I was the only one.” As a result of the women who have agreed to join me at the table, many friendships, although virtual will be forged. Author and life coach Iyanla Vanzant says, “Life will accommodate you in any way that you choose. Life is always listening to the silent requests of your heart and mind. Life is always surveying the landscape of your heart, gathering the bits and pieces of the emotions buried there. Life is always monitoring the activity of your tongue, checking for ruins and sacred elements. Life knows that your mind, heart, and mouth will produce the requests of your consciousness even when you are most aware of it. Until today, you may not have realized that life is answering your requests. You may not have believed that you have the power and the right to ask life for more than you already have right now. Just for today, be devoted to creating a life of positive, joyful requests. Create them first in your mind. Next create them in your heart. Then speak to them into existence. Be sure to remember what you have created. If it does not show up, check your counter requests. Repeat after me, Today I am devoted to creating and requesting what I truly desire to experience in life." I met today’s guests a few years ago, each on a separate occasion where their stories were shared, inspired, and begged for more. Please welcome Ms. Kari Galloway and Ms. Helenia Bragg to the Frankly Speaking table. Their stories embody lessons not taught in school and affirm the belief that what happens to you is not who you are. Click below, be inspired, and share.

Women's History Month is celebrating veterans and active-duty military who keep us and have kept us out of constant harm’s way, often at great costs. Considering this is the year after the 101st year anniversary of WWI, we are reminded that war is a part of human history. My goal is to share diverse war stories across the spectrum of age, gender, and race to include family impact and cultural legacies. The Vietnam war was my coming-of-age war. I became immersed in and confused by the concurrent war at home, about the necessity of US involvement, while at the same time grieving over school friends who paid the ultimate price. There were so many bold and untold stories. Today’s story although, history is her story. We will hear women who decided to make history instead of reading about it. The Voices of Women in Vietnam is a replay of a weekly National Public Radio show called With Good Reason. When I first heard this show, it was such a heart tug I knew I had to share. It includes in their own voices, stories from wives, widows, nurses, librarians who took off their white lace gloves and struggled culturally, socially, intellectually, and physically to build a foundation for our continued gender-based struggles today. So, brew a cup of tea, get comfortable and click below. This show is dedicated to all women, your children, and your children’s children. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, then and now.

"It’s true that, depending upon which community to ultimately decide to call a second home, you might just be the only medical professional available to meet the needs of multitudes. The more remote the community in a developing country, the less likely it is to have a Western-trained medical professional. You are likely to be very welcomed in your new community, but you should also expect to be viewed as an outsider and treated as such until you’ve established yourself and proven your abilities. You’ll need to work with the community’s healers and find common ground in the provision of patient care. Once you’ve proven your worth, you should expect to be working around the clock. " The above is an advertisement from Gap Medics. However, it did not take an advertisement for Dr. Sarh A. John to begin serving the underserved. After a life-changing traumatic health crisis and years of restoration, she felt she had no other choice but to share her medical talents differently. Join the conversation and hear her compelling story on the Frankly Speaking with Tyra G podcast. Click below, be inspired, and share.

Rob Bell in his 2016 book How to Be Here, reflects, "That question the blinking line in your mind or on your mobile device asks is: Who are you to do this? It can keep you locked up for years, living in fear and doubt, looking over your fence or your shoulder, and comparing yourself with the people around you. But the first word about you is a gift, and you’re here, breathing, and you get to participate in the world's ongoing creation. Creation is exhausting, exhilarating, draining, and invigorating, and it’s also a mystery because everybody sits down to a blank page. Or a business plan. Or test or experiment or meeting or deal. Or a child or job or life. Especially those who have done it before. The more you do the work, the more you build muscles. From shaping metal to forming paragraphs to arguing a case to doing research to making spreadsheets to arranging the parts for the violins to play to organizing staff to raising a child---you can acquire skills and then improve on them as you do the work year after year. This growing technique and expertise can help you create, build, and act more easily and excellently, but it cannot help you avoid the blank page. This is true for rocket scientists, actors, and doctors, and it’s also true for parents, people who work in restaurants, and your insurance agent. No one has ever lived your life with your particular challenges and possibilities, no matter who you are and whatever work you do. This quarter, we have an umbrella theme: Reflect, Restore, and Reposition. These three terms allow us to dig deep into each concept individually or explore all three as part of a process or a journey. Today, we are going to do both. I have two guests at the table today who will share how they individually and together successfully understand that some things do not fit in a lab; they will talk to our hearts, beyond where answers only move us one level down toward to understanding, to a place where hope and faith are built into the GPS. Take a listen, Be inspired, and share!

Spring is the season during which the natural world revives and reinvigorates after the colder winter months. During spring, dormant plants begin to grow again, new seedlings sprout out of the ground and hibernating animals awake. What are you doing to revive and reinvigorate your dreams, your soul, your mind? What script are you creating? Does it contain thoughts like “I am not enough!” or “I am more than enough!”? Are you stuck between your no longer and you not yet? Or are you willing to take new risks and experience the vulnerability that comes with it? Do you understand that hope is a consequence of struggle? What is your mirror telling you? I invite you to take a listen to an NPR On Being podcast that I treasure and feel compelled to share between Krista Tippet and Brene Brown about Courage and Vulnerability. It is NOT comfortable, yet it is necessary to hear. It is one of those experiences, when you finish listening, you may say to yourself, Wow! I thought I was the only one. Take a listen, and get smarter. Then let me know what you think. Maybe we can continue the conversation around the Frankly Speaking with Tyra G table.

Karmic astrologer Dora Jones believes, And I quote; “Each of us comes into life with a promise, a gift, a passion, and a deep, heartfelt desire.” The promise is what you have come to life to master. You have promised to overcome, resolve, or heal some aspect of your consciousness. As you face your life’s experiences, you are given the opportunity to fulfill this promise. Your responses to your experiences determine whether you fulfill or break the promise you have made to yourself. The gift is what you have come to give to life. It is the cornerstone of self-determination and self-actualization. The gift constitutes your talents and your abilities. The unique things you do as only you can do them. The gift is enhanced or diminished by how you do what you do and how you share those things that you do naturally or well with others. Passion represents those things you pursue for the sheer joy of it- those things you do that make you feel alive and meaningful, valuable, and worthy. Most of us are frightened away from or talked out of our passion. We are made to feel it is inappropriate or useless. The heartfelt desire is the thing you most want to experience in life. Some want love. Others want acceptance. Most of us want both. We face difficulty not losing our identity or integrity in pursuit of heartfelt desire. My guest of the week, Ms. Quay Holland, WELLTH Coach and Rebalance Strategist, walks us through her process of addressing each of the above attributes. This week, we included an authentic role-play exercise to demonstrate her healing process with her process. Take a listen, learn things, be inspired, and share.

“Legacy is about life and living. It's about learning from the past, living in the present, and building for the future. A legacy may take many forms – children, grandchildren, a business, an idea, a book, a community, a home, some piece of ourselves. How many of us are living our lives so that our legacy reflects all that we truly hold most near and dear? How many of us are living with integrity and courage? The world isn't connected by molecules. It's connected by stories, traditions, memories, hopes, and dreams. We are connected by the legacies passed down from those who came before us and the legacies we pass down to those who come after us. For children, legacy means learning from the past. It separates the timeless from the transient. Children have a feeling of security and continuity that comes from knowing that there are adults who care about them. For adults, legacy means hoping for the future. It means developing and passing on a timeless part of yourself. We feel valued and useful no matter how old we get. We come to terms with our accomplishments and our disappointments. We create personal meaning and purpose”[1] Experience the power and promise of an ever-living legacy between father and son Asa and Courtney Nero. They magnify their bond as they share stories and their music. Both come alive int the Frankly Speaking studio. [1] http://www.legacyproject.org/guides/whatislegacy.html

This week we visit the land of Gen Z aka IGen, aka Centennials, aka Nexters… Generation Z is the youngest, most ethnically diverse, the largest generation in American history, comprising 27% of the US population. Current Population: 23 million and growing rapidly. Gen Z is described as a maker generation, a far more pragmatic and practical generation who must architect and build the future we are all trying to imagine living in. The world doesn't need more foundational layers, it needs a generation to create. There is a belief that the best way to predict the future is to build it. And Gen Z has been described as BUILDERS and human justice warriors. They are living out loud. Their gifts are bridges. And remember bridges go 2 ways. So, our gifts become our tickets across the bridges into one another’s lives. Their growth is a very profound experience. It can be beautiful and ugly, empowering and confining, thought-provoking and mind-boggling, pleasant and unpleasant, all at the same time. Writer Howard Thurman says, “don’t ask what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive, and then go do it.” Today we have a wonderful ambassador from the I generation, who is living out loud, sharing his gifts and talents internationally. I have been looking forward to sharing him with you. Mr. Nyliek Brooks, an 18-year-old, international soccer player shares authentically and vulnerably his story of the hard choices of his journey so far.

I am excited about how the Frankly Speaking with Tyra G show progresses. We are celebrating the sixth year of proof that dreams can come true. We have been telling stories to touch the mind, the heart, and the spirit. They have been multicultural, intergenerational, educational, and inspirational, and you have told them! This week, we present a story from our Frankly Speaking Human Library Catalogue with a theme called This is Us Next Chapter. These stories celebrate the courage, commitment, and creativity of people who positively impact the lives of those challenged in some way, moving from their no longer into their not yet. This week, meet Dana Saif, Visionary and Founder and Director of the International Language Academy (ILA) in Washington, DC. Dana authentically shares the challenges and blessings of birthing something new yet so needed. She prioritized her goals as a relevant curriculum, certified faculty and staff, a state-of-the-art facility, and accreditation. At ILA, the team understands that traveling to a new country can be overwhelming, but rest assured, ILA has all the tools to help you succeed. Whether you want to complete your education at an American university or improve your English, you’ll find your perfect fit at ILA. Take a listen, learn things, and be inspired. Then, share and subscribe.

Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it's primarily intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices. It was initially called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the essential purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. This week, Frankly Speaking shares the table with a National Defense Strategist, Educator, Research Analyst, and Business Architect with multiple years of experience in each of these areas. Hershel Holiday Sr, US Army United States Military Academy at West Point and Veteran takes us beyond preparation for war and the war experience. We share the resulting emotional impact on his family spoken through Hershel Holiday Jr.'s words. Take a listen, learn things, feel proud, subscribe, and share.

Veterans Day honors all of those who have served the country in war or peace — dead or alive — although it's primarily intended to thank living veterans for their sacrifices. It was initially called Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the essential purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. This week, Frankly Speaking shares the table with a National Defense Strategist, Educator, Research Analyst, and Business Architect with multiple years of experience in each of these areas. Hershel Holiday Sr, US Army United States Military Academy at West Point and Veteran takes us beyond preparation for war and the war experience. We share the resulting emotional impact on his family spoken through Hershel Holiday Jr.'s words. Take a listen, learn things, feel proud, subscribe, and share.

The 1977 theme song for a film about Mohammed Ali, "The Greatest Love of All," was written and composed by Michael Masser, with lyrics by Linda Creed, and sung by George Benson. The beginning lyrics lay the perfect introduction to this week's Frankly Speaking radio show discussion, Were it Not for Those Who Care. "I believe that children are our future Teach them well and let them lead the way Show them all the beauty they possess inside Give them a sense of pride to make it easier Let the children's laughter remind us of how we used to be." This is the ideal life we would like all of our children to experience, However, The World Health Organization reports that an estimated 1 Billion children between the ages of 2-17 in the world have experienced physical, mental, and sexual abuse in the last year. What time is it on the clock for our children's safety, achievement, and happiness? How can we reach, teach, and love those children who are left out, left behind, and leftover that what happens to them is different than who they were created to be? How can we help them discover and walk in their worthiness? This week, we learned about a national non-profit[1] organization, that is doing just that. Girls on the Run (GOTR) designs programming that strengthens third to eighth-grade girls’ social, emotional, physical, and behavioral skills to navigate life experiences successfully. The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. The life skills curriculum is delivered by caring and competent coaches who are trained to teach lessons as intended. Ashleigh Conrad, GOTR Northern Virginia Program Engagement Manager, gets us excited about the secret sauce of the girls, their coaches, the annual 5K, and the proven positive impact that is changing life's clock on the happiness of the girls in the program. Take a listen, be inspired, share, and subscribe. 1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girls_on_the_Run.

I believe everyone not only has a story but is a story. Each of our stories evolves as a journey, not a destination, a process, not an event. We learn as we become emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically. Only when we look back and remember can we understand. This week, we look into the rearview mirror of the eternity of one intelligent, evolving, creative story. He has discovered that life works for him because he knows everything he manifests on the outside results from who he has become on the inside. In the beginning chapters, Patric Gregory McCoy was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 20, 1946. McCoy graduated as class valedictorian from Englewood High School in Chicago in 1964. He received his B.A. in chemistry in 1969 from the University of Chicago. In 1972, McCoy was employed as the chief chemist for the Gary, Indiana, Air Pollution Control Department while taking part-time graduate courses. He received his M.A. in environmental science from Governors State University in 1979. McCoy retired from the EPA in 2006 after serving ten years as a national expert on air pollution control measures for the petroleum refining industry. However, the current chapter of Patric's story finds him immersed in his passion for art, nurtured in his childhood home in Chicago, surrounded by art and books. Patric's art collection contains over one thousand paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages, and assemblages of African-American art. He co-founded Diasporal Rhythms in 2003. Diasporal Rhythms is a not-for-profit arts organization that promotes the collection of artworks by living artists of African descent. He is a legacy, mentoring the next generations to live in the now, not be afraid to make mistakes, and walk in their worthiness. His favorite quote is "Stop Trying, Just Do"! The best part of this episode is Patric's outstanding storytelling style. Get comfortable, learn, and be inspired. Then, share and subscribe.